NHS Black Country Joint Forward Plan

News - 11 July 2023

he launch of our Joint Forward Plan comes as the Black Country ICB and the ICS celebrate its one-year anniversaries. In the last 12 months, we have already achieved a great deal by working in partnership with organisations in the health and care sector. However, there is no question that this is a challenging time for health and care services, which is why our plan recognises the collective strength in working together to resolve our shared challenges and describes our ambition to improve quality and outcomes for people who use our services.

This plan is just the start of our journey and I look forward to working with you to bring it to life and make a real difference to the health of people in the Black Country.

I encourage you all to visit our dedicated webpage: Click Here to read more about our plan, which includes the full version, a shorter read and an easy-read document.

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Celebrating World Menopause Day and Menopause Awareness Month 2023

October is World Menopause Month, and October 18th celebrated as World Menopause Awareness Day, with the focus this year on cardiovascular health. Established in 2009 by the International Menopause Society in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), World Menopause Month aims to raise awareness of the menopause and the possible associated health issues, whilst promoting support options available to improve the health and wellbeing of those navigating the menopause transition.

To show our support to colleagues experiencing menopause, Healthwatch Walsall , delivered by Engaging Communities Solutions (ECS), is a signatory of the Workplace Menopause pledge:


World Menopause Day 2023
World Menopause Day is held each year on 18 October to raise awareness, break the stigma and highlight the support available for improving health and wellbeing for those experiencing menopause.

Menopause is not just a gender or age issue; it is an organisational issue which can impact colleagues both directly or indirectly. Awareness around this topic is key to reducing the stigma attached to menopause and encouraging people to talk more openly about it
The theme for World Menopause Day 2023 is cardiovascular disease. The link between reproductive factors and cardiovascular disease is another important aspect of menopause that women need to be aware of.

Researchers have recently discovered that a woman's reproductive experiences (including menstruation, pregnancy, any breast cancer treatments, and menopause) can affect the chances of developing cardiovascular disease later in life. Awareness of this can help determine an individual's risk.

The International Menopause Society has a range of resources available to support this year’s theme, available in different languages.

At Healthwatch Walsall, we are proud to be a signatory of the Workplace Menopause Pledge, showing that we will provide support, information and resources to our colleagues experiencing menopause.

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Cost of Living: Effect on the Nation’s Mental Health

Over the past year, fuel and energy prices have soared taking huge bites out of our pockets, on top of increased rents and food prices. The financial squeeze has been felt by everyone in the UK.

Everywhere you look, you’re reminded of the cost of living crisis. The news, social media, and your personal bank balance offer stark reminders of the current reality.

People are reducing car journeys and taking up cycling, there are those cutting out yearly holidays and in the most challenging of circumstances, people have to choose between heating the house and food items.

Link to ReHab recovery website: https://www.rehab-recovery.co.uk/resources/cost-of-living-effect-on-nations-mental-health/
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